B.C. Woman Detained by ICE for Three Weeks in Texas

Tania Warner calls experience 'the most stressful, traumatizing ordeal' she has ever faced

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:49pm

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A dimly lit, empty hallway of a detention center, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and casting long shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and melancholy.The traumatic experience of a Canadian mother and daughter detained by U.S. immigration authorities exposes the human toll of the nation's immigration enforcement policies.Sarita Today

A Canadian woman named Tania Warner and her 7-year-old daughter Ayla were detained by U.S. immigration authorities for 3 weeks after being stopped near the border in Texas. Warner posted a video as they were being released, saying it was the most stressful and traumatizing experience they've ever faced.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges and human toll of immigration enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border, even for individuals who may have valid claims to enter or remain in the country. It raises questions about the treatment of detainees, especially families with children, in the immigration system.

The details

On March 14, U.S. border agents stopped Warner's vehicle near Sarita, Texas as she and her daughter were driving to a baby shower. The agents detained them for 3 weeks at an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas, despite Warner's claims that she and her daughter are Canadian citizens. Warner says the experience was extremely stressful and traumatizing for both of them.

  • On March 14, Warner and her daughter were stopped and detained near Sarita, Texas.
  • They were held at an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas for 3 weeks.

The players

Tania Warner

A Canadian woman who was detained by U.S. immigration authorities along with her 7-year-old daughter Ayla.

Ayla

Tania Warner's 7-year-old daughter who was detained with her mother for 3 weeks.

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What they’re saying

“We're leaving Dilley right now. As you can see we left in our jail clothes. There's Ayla, how are you doing, Ayla? Good.”

— Tania Warner

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing human rights concerns around immigration detention, especially for families, and the need for more oversight and accountability in the U.S. immigration enforcement system.